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How are hydrocarbons used to make plastics and synthetic fibres?
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hydrocarbon
Structures assumed by hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) molecules in four common hydrocarbon compounds.
Hydrocarbons derived from petroleum and natural gas serve as the fundamental raw materials, or feedstocks, for the production of plastics and synthetic fibres.1
The Production Process
The transformation of hydrocarbons into these materials primarily involves polymerization. Many petrochemical feedstocks are unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as olefins (e.g., ethylene and propylene), which contain carbon-carbon double bonds. Under the influence of heat, pressure, and chemical catalysts—such as Ziegler-Natta catalysts—these double bonds open, allowing individual molecules (monomers) to link together into long, chainlike polymers.123
Applications
- Plastics: Through polymerization, ethylene is converted into polyethylene, while vinyl chloride yields polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and styrene produces polystyrene.13
- Synthetic Fibres: Polymers are converted into fibres through spinning, where the material is melted or dissolved and extruded through a spinnerette to form filaments. Common examples include polyesters, derived from ethylene glycol and xylenes, and nylon, which is synthesized from benzene derivatives.4567